Ancient Filipino script making a comeback with new generations

4 week_ago 15

Manitoba·New

Baybayin, an past Filipino syllabary (written characters that correspond syllables) is successful the midst of a mini resurgence. New generations of Filipinos successful Winnipeg are reclaiming the script, which dates backmost to the 1400s oregon earlier.

In classrooms and online, section teachers spark revival of Baybayin

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 20, 2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Ancient Filipino publication making a modern-day comeback

In online and in-person tutorials, younger Filipino-Canadians are learning Baybayin. The syllabary predates the colonization of the Philippines and was antecedently a mislaid language.

Ally Gonzalo is connected a ngo to stay connected with their homeland.

The Filipino-Canadian immigrated to Canada successful the summertime of 2016 but is determined ne'er to suffer interaction with their culture and what it means to beryllium Filipino.

Enter Baybayin.

Gonzalo is Winnipeg artist and lensman who taught themself Baybayin, the past Filipino syllabary.

Man successful illustration writes publication connected a notebook utilizing a bluish marker. They are wearing a achromatic T-shirt and a furniture is successful the background.

"Having near my motherland I truly wanted to find a mode to consciousness much connected and truthful I was like, 'Well, I cognize I tin thatch myself, wherefore don't I conscionable familiarize myself with this penning publication adjacent more,'" Gonzalo said.

A syllabary differs from a connection but includes characters that correspond syllables. Baybayin is thought to date back to the 1400s oregon earlier, earlier the Philippines was colonized by Spain.

Gonzalo present teaches the publication successful workshops successful Winnipeg. (Gonzalo volition beryllium holding caller workshops soon. For much accusation connection Gonzalo via their Instagram account. )

A manus holding a heavy achromatic marker writes Baybayin publication successful a notebook.

Winnipegger Kat Daaca, besides known arsenic Baybayin Baby connected Instagram, teaches Baybayin workshops successful idiosyncratic and online.

This evening (Thursday March 20) she is teaching a 90-minute interactive virtual people for beginners and radical who already person immoderate familiarity with the script. Register here, oregon for more information visit her website.

Local Filipinos aren't the lone radical intrigued by Baybayin.

The chill happening for maine is that it's not a humanities design. That's my idiosyncratic font that I made for myself and my website, and they utilized it connected the money.- Paul Morrow

Winnipegger Paul Morrow has done extended probe connected the past publication and created his ain Baybayin fonts.

"Now, due to the fact that of the net … the newer generations are conscionable much funny successful it so it's coming back," said Morrow, who is not Filipino.

He made his fonts disposable escaped online, and present they look connected Phillippines currency, helium said.

"The chill happening for maine is that it's not a humanities design. That's my idiosyncratic font that I made for myself and my website and they utilized it connected the money."

Winnipeggers' involvement successful Baybayin is besides present the taxable of a mini-documentary by Chaira Plaga, a integer movie and media pupil astatine Red River College PolyTechnic. Her four-minute documentary was made with the assistance of chap students Trevor Mason and Evan Rivard.

For Gonzalo, the resurgence of Baybayin is gratifying and they anticipation much Filipinos larn the script.

"What I would accidental to chap Filipino Canadians if they privation to link with their Filipino heritage, is just, 'explore Baybayin,'" Gonzalo said. "The worst happening that volition hap is truly you conscionable didn't larn it successful a day. I didn't larn it successful a day, either."

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